Maine parents head to Boston to cheer on their daughter

BOSTON, Mass. (NEWS CENTER) -- Lots of Mainers headed down to Boston to watch the Marathon on Monday.

Michael Roberge from Old Orchard Beach was wearing his UMaine jacket. He was in the city to cheer on his daughter, Hillary Schmidt. She has spent three years training for this race.

Schmidt grew up in Wells and now lives in New Jersey. She ran the New York City Marathon last year in order to qualify for Boston this year. That was before the bombing, just because wanted to run a marathon close to home.

The runner got to give her mom a hug when she finished. Schmidt says the course was tough. She hasn't taken a day off from running in three years, but she plans on taking off the day after her Marathon run. She is also looking forward to going back to being a mom.